Numerical Simulations on Day‐to‐Day Variations of Low‐Latitude Es Layers at Arecibo

Abstract

AbstractTo reveal mechanisms of day‐to‐day variations of the low‐latitude sporadic E (Es) layers, Es layer simulations were performed and compared to plasma layers observed by the Arecibo radar. Many studies have been conducted about the Es layers till now. However, few studies investigated the day‐to‐day variations of the Es layers especially at the low‐latitudes. Herein, for the first time, our numerical model generally succeeded in reproducing features of the day‐to‐day variations of the low‐latitude Es layers. We found that the day‐to‐day variations of the Es layers are created by a combination of day‐to‐day variations of zonal/meridional‐wind shears driven by the tides and the downward phase velocity of the tides. The wind‐driven mechanism generally explains the day‐to‐day variations of the low‐latitude Es layers.